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| Pirates attack US-flag ship again | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A US-flagged container ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates seven months ago has been attacked again, the EU's naval force says. | A US-flagged container ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates seven months ago has been attacked again, the EU's naval force says. |
| Crew from MV Maersk Alabama returned fire after pirates fired automatic weapons at the ship, about 350 nautical miles east of Somalia. | |
| There were no casualties reported, the force said. A patrol aircraft flew from neighbouring Djibouti to the area. | There were no casualties reported, the force said. A patrol aircraft flew from neighbouring Djibouti to the area. |
| MV Maersk Alabama's captain was held hostage for five days in April. | MV Maersk Alabama's captain was held hostage for five days in April. |
| Captain Richard Phillips was rescued when American naval snipers opened fire on the pirates holding him in a lifeboat, killing three outright. | Captain Richard Phillips was rescued when American naval snipers opened fire on the pirates holding him in a lifeboat, killing three outright. |
| He had offered himself to the pirates in a bid to save his 19-member crew from harm. | He had offered himself to the pirates in a bid to save his 19-member crew from harm. |
| Ship released | Ship released |
| On Wednesday, an EU naval vessel searched for the pirates in the area, but the force did not say if they were found. | On Wednesday, an EU naval vessel searched for the pirates in the area, but the force did not say if they were found. |
| The force operates in the area to protect World Food Programme ships and others from piracy. | The force operates in the area to protect World Food Programme ships and others from piracy. |
| The attack came a day after pirates released a Spanish fishing boat and its crew after holding it for six weeks. | The attack came a day after pirates released a Spanish fishing boat and its crew after holding it for six weeks. |
| Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Tuesday that the pirates had abandoned the Alakrana tuna boat and that all 36 crew on board were "safe and sound". | Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Tuesday that the pirates had abandoned the Alakrana tuna boat and that all 36 crew on board were "safe and sound". |
| The pirates earlier told reporters they were leaving the ship after being promised a ransom of $3.5m (£2.1m), although there was no government confirmation. | The pirates earlier told reporters they were leaving the ship after being promised a ransom of $3.5m (£2.1m), although there was no government confirmation. |